Question

music should unquestioningly be offered in elementary schools, as it is widely recognized and supported by all parents and educators. the fact that a large number of people believe in the value of music education proves its importance and relevance. everyone believes that music education has a big impact on cognitive development, creativity, and emotional expression.

this paragraph uses the ad populum logical fallacy. how could the writer correct this fallacy to support their argument with logical reasoning?

by highlighting that music education is loved by everyone and is passed down through generations
by discussing the writers favorite musician and the impact their music has had on their lives
by citing statistics that show the positive impact of music education on brain development, creativity, and emotional expression
by mentioning that the majority of students enjoy music classes and find them entertaining and fun because they get to chill with their friends

Explanation:

Identify the logical fallacy

The paragraph relies on the ad populum fallacy, which claims a proposition is true or good simply because many people believe or support it (e.g., "supported by all parents," "everyone believes"). To correct this in Argumentative Writing, the writer must replace popular opinion with objective, logical evidence.

Evaluate the options

• Option 1: "By highlighting that music education is loved by everyone..." repeats the ad populum fallacy by relying on universal appeal.
• Option 2: "By discussing the writer's favorite musician..." introduces an anecdotal, subjective argument rather than objective logical reasoning.
• Option 3: "By citing statistics that show the positive impact..." replaces the appeal to popularity with empirical, verifiable data supporting the claims about cognitive development, creativity, and emotional expression.
• Option 4: "By mentioning that the majority of students enjoy music..." still relies on popularity and subjective enjoyment rather than logical proof of educational value.

Select the logical correction

Citing statistical evidence directly supports the claims with facts rather than opinions, successfully correcting the fallacy.

Answer:

• (A) By highlighting that music education is loved by everyone and is passed down through generations
• (B) By discussing the writer's favorite musician and the impact their music has had on their lives
• (C) By citing statistics that show the positive impact of music education on brain development, creativity, and emotional expression (Correct answer)
• (D) By mentioning that the majority of students enjoy music classes and find them entertaining and fun because they get to chill with their friends